Wix vs WordPress: an honest comparison for businesses

Short answer: choose Wix if you want an attractive site up quickly, without thinking about technology, and the site does not need to grow much. Choose WordPress if the website is an important sales channel, needs to rank on Google, must connect to other systems, or you want to be able to change provider. The biggest difference is not the features but the freedom: a Wix site cannot be moved, a WordPress site can be moved anywhere.

The basic difference

Wix is a website builder sold as a service. You rent the tool, the templates and the hosting in one package. You drag and drop elements anywhere on the page, and Wix takes care of security and updates (Wix).

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (WordPress.org). You install it on your hosting and choose your own theme and plugins, from tens of thousands of free plugins in the official directory (WordPress.org). Read more in What is a CMS?

Put simply: Wix is like renting a furnished flat. WordPress is like owning a house. One is more convenient, the other gives more freedom and more responsibility.

Wix vs WordPress side by side

Usage according to W3Techs, October 2026. Wix prices vary by country, so check the price shown to UK visitors on Wix's pricing page.

Which is better for SEO?

Both can rank. Google has said its systems do not care how a page was made, only the end result, and that all the big tools can create pages that work in search (Search Engine Journal). In Wix you can change page titles, meta descriptions and URLs, which goes a long way for a smaller site.

The difference is how far you can go. In WordPress you control structured data, redirects, how pages load and how the site is structured, and you can have a developer optimise the code. When competition for keywords is tough, control is what decides. Read more about what really affects rankings in How does SEO work?

Switching platform later

This is the point most people miss. Wix says a Wix site can only run on Wix's own servers and cannot be moved to another host (Wix). If you want to leave Wix, you rebuild the site and move text and images yourself, with redirects from the old URLs so you keep your rankings (Google Search Central).

A WordPress site can be moved to another host or agency whenever you like, with content, design and URLs intact. Also think about where data is stored. Wix may store visitor data in places such as the US and Israel, protected by standard contractual clauses (Wix). With WordPress you choose your own host, for example one with UK servers.

Squarespace vs WordPress, Webflow vs WordPress

Squarespace vs WordPress

Squarespace has polished templates that look professional straight away and suit photographers, restaurants and creative businesses. There is no free plan, only a trial (Squarespace). Export only works to WordPress format, and your shop, products and design do not come with you (Squarespace). Choose WordPress if you want more features and full freedom.

Webflow vs WordPress

Webflow gives designers pixel-level control without writing code, and produces clean code. It is powerful but has a steeper learning curve (Webflow). You can export HTML and CSS, but not CMS content as pages, and forms stop working after export. Choose Webflow for a design-led site with a team that enjoys the tool. Choose WordPress when you need many integrations or want to change provider freely.

Wix vs Squarespace

Wix gives more freedom to place elements and more apps. Squarespace gives stricter but better-looking templates that are harder to break. Choose Wix if you like to tinker, Squarespace if you want it to look good straight away. Both share the same downside: it is hard to move away. We compare more options in Best website builder 2026.

How to choose

Choose Wix if

• you need a simple site with a few pages
• you want to do everything yourself without technology
• the website is not your main channel for new customers

Choose WordPress if

• you want to be found on Google and publish content regularly
• the site needs to grow with more services, locations or languages
• you need connections to a CRM, booking, newsletters, e-commerce or accounting such as Xero
• you want to own your site and be able to change provider

If you choose WordPress, also read WordPress maintenance and security.